(LEAD) Disabled care facility director arrested over alleged sexual violence

▲ A disabled care facility manager (C), accused of committing sexual violence against facility residents, leaves the Seoul Central District Court in southern Seoul after attending his arrest warrant hearing on Feb. 19, 2026. (Yonhap)

(LEAD) disabled facility-crime

(LEAD) Disabled care facility director arrested over alleged sexual violence

(ATTN: RECASTS headline, lead; UPDATES with details throughout, photo)

SEOUL, Feb. 19 (Yonhap) -- A Seoul court on Thursday issued an arrest warrant for a disabled care facility director accused of committing sexual violence against multiple facility residents.

The Seoul Central District Court issued the warrant, citing the risk of the man, surnamed Kim, destroying evidence and fleeing.

Kim appeared at the court for his arrest warrant hearing earlier in the day after police requested the warrant on charges of raping and molesting the victims at the Saekdongwon group home for people with severe disabilities located in Ganghwa County, Incheon, just west of Seoul.

Police suspect Kim abused at least six residents at the facility, but he has denied the allegations.

Kim reportedly continued to deny the allegations during Thursday's hearing but eventually acknowledged part of them after police submitted to the court medical records of the victims and surveillance footage showing Kim assaulting a resident.

Police began looking into the case in May last year and formed a special investigation team late last month. A victim first raised allegations over sexual violence occurring at the facility in February last year.

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